General Assembly approves funds for Havelock military projects

The N.C.General Assembly has allocated funding for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that will go towards a new maintenance and testing facility.

The state appropriated $3 million to build additional facilities to supplement the Lift Fan Maintenance and Testing Facility planned for FRC East. The facility is designed to improve the industrial base required for the lift fan testing component for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

During a press conference at Havelock City Hall Wednesday, Havelock Mayor Will Lewis said the funding was the first time the state of North Carolina has made an investment in a federal military installation.

“This is a groundbreaking thing that the North Carolina General Assembly has done,” said Lewis. “They wanted to make an investment in their military.”

Lewis said state legislators also looked at the economic impact the facility would have on the region.

“The Lift Fan facility could have been located anywhere...when they decided it would be at FRC East our state government decided they would help in that process if they could,” said Lewis. “It’s important for military sustainability, it’s important for those F-35Bs that are coming and it’s important for our FRC workforce. But it’s also incredibly important for the economy of eastern North Carolina to have that located here.”

While he stressed that he could not site specific job numbers, Lewis said the state appropriation would help maintain a number of civilian jobs at the air base.

“This (lift fan) facility is a huge keystone in making sure we’re relevant going forward working on aircraft,” said Lewis. “It will preserve jobs for people who are already working at the base who will transfer to it.”

Amanda Ohlensehlen, Havelock Economic Development director, said the lift fan facility will provide an opportunity for workers at the air base to take on new jobs and potentially be a stepping stone for additional job opportunities.

“This as a tremendous opportunity for our community as well as eastern North Carolina,” she commented.

The lift fan facility will be built with a $15.6 million federal military construction appropriation.

According to a press release from Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT), the facilities will anchor FRC East as a primary repair facility for the F-35B. Lewis said Cherry point will eventually be home to 94 F-35Bs. The aircraft have vertical flying capability and will replace some of the bases older aircraft, including the Harrier.

“MCAS Cherry Point will eventually be home to more F-35B's than any air station in the world and FRC East is the designated depot for F-35B maintenance and repair,” Lewis said.

Lewis, who also serves as president of ACT, said the state appropriation is an important helping hand during an uncertain time for many of North Carolina’s military installations.

“These funds are both a real and a symbolic show of support for our North Carolina military bases in anticipation of a base realignment and closure process,” said Lewis, referring to a round of base closures and realignments included in the Defense Department’s 2018 budget request that are set to take place in 2021.

Cherry Point will also benefit from two other state appropriations. The budget includes $1.2 million for purchase of land in proximity to Bogue Field in Carteret County. The funding will help mitigate encroachment to an Outlying Field Bogue where Cherry Point aviators train.

Additionally, $1 million has been appropriated to help clean up an abandoned landfill on the west end of the city near Tucker Creek Middle School. The approximately 34-acre area is classified as a brownfield site, which denotes land with known or suspected soil contamination.

“The City of Havelock over the last several years realized it was something we needed to do something positive about,” said Lewis.

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